Cotton-picking machine.



W. W. FARNSWORTH. COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rnnn sprr. 14, 1908.

mm- Jan 25, 1910.

2 sums-sum i W. W. FARNSWORTH.

I COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION rILnn any-19.14, 190s.

Patented Jami 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wILLIAn w. ruaswon'rrr, or scmm'ron, mssrssr'rrrif},

Application filed September To all whom it may co'ric'eraf 1 r I Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM W. FARN-S- woa'rn, a citizen of the Unitedstates,re-

sidin at- Scranton, in the county of. Jackson and tate of Mississip i,haveinvented certain new and useful mprov'ements in Gotton-lickingMachines. 0 which theIollowmg a specification.

This invention relates cotton picking machines in whichthere 1s employedmechanical means adapted to be directed by an-attendant -f0rpick-i1i ordrawing the cotton from the bolls, ant improved means'tor 'c onve ingaway the cotton after the latter has been removed from the plants.

A further object i's'to provideimproved means for loosening(in-separating the cot ton in the boll. a

A further objectis to provide an improved picker, and improved means forremovingor stripping the cotton from the picker.

' A further object is'toprovide an im'.-' proved mechanical andpneumatic pxckrn g nozzle and improved means for controlling a blast ofair through the nozzle.

A further ob ect isto provide improved means for varying thesuction-ofthe nozzles.

A further object is to provide animproved machine-of this characterwhich will 0e. simple and durable in construction and effective andefiicient in o eration.

To the attainment of t ese ends and the accomplishment of other newan'duseful objects. as will appear, the invention consists in thefeatures of novplty in the construction, combination anatrange iientoflthe several parts hereinafter more fully described'and claimed andshown. in the 'ac-- com anymg drawings. lllustrating an embod ment ofthe invention', and inwhich- F igure 1 .1s a side elevation ofanimproved machine of this character constructed in accordance with theprinciples ofthis invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged'detail sectional viewof one of thenicking nozzles. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mouth of thenozzle. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the valve andmechanism for controlling-the degree of SltCilOn .or-vacuum 1 in thenozzles.

Referring more particularly to thedrawiugs and in the presentexemplification of the invention the numeral-10 designates a suitablevehicle which ispreferably'mounted upon wheels and upon this vehicle isto improvements in 'co'r'roa-rxcxrite mamas. a

- mounted'the operating mechanism for the pickers. This vehicle may beof any suitable construction and .is adapted to receive the cotton fromthe nozzles after -it is picked from the 5 lants; v

Mounte u on the vehicle and infany desired or suita le position is asuitable suction fan or-vacuum creating device 11, extending fromthecasing of which is a suitable tubular member 1.2 which may be of anydesired .size and length and to .whicht-he: flexible tubes 13are-connected these tubes 13'having communication with the tubularmember 12. Any number of these flexible tubes 13. may be providedaccordin to the number of o .ier'ators and the num er of plants it is,desired to pick at the same time. In the present exemplification of theinvention. only two of such-tubes are-"shown and secured to the-freeextremity o'feach of the tubes is a picking nozzle designated generallyby the reference 'numeral 14. 'This nozzle is provided with-a conicalextremity 15' and the "other-extremity of the nozzle is preferablyreduced as shown and is-secured respectively to the extremity of theflexible" tubular members 13'by telescoping one extremity with theother. The conical extremity. 15 of the nozzle is preferably ofisetlaterally with respect to the body )ortion thereof and is provided witha suita le aperture. in the top of the offset portion-projecting into-whic 1 is a circumferential extension 16 preferably 111 the forin'ofa-ring and a collar 17, of a diameter somewhat lar 'er than the diameterof the openingwhich is surrounded the ring 16, is located within saidopening to form a closure therefor and this collar 17 is provided with aperipheral groove 18 which -1s adapted to receit e the ringlti so thatthe latter will form a support andbearing for the collar 17 whereby thelattermay freely rotated.

Surrounding the extremity .0f the nozzle 151s a tubular member 19wh1'ch1s )r'ovided too with a plu'rality of nozzles 20 exten ing into and iuadirection transverse to theopening of the picker nozzle. The nozzles .20are preferably inclined as shown so as to direct a' plurality of blastsof air across theex tremit'y of the nozzle inward at an oblique angle tothe periphery "and in a"plane per- 'pendi'ciilar tothe longitudinal axisof the nozzle to cause a whirlin motion of-.the

air within the picker'nozz e. 'Any suitable means may be provided forsupply'ingthe -any desiredsize'and length according to the.

' lar members 29 .bei

" throug thetubuldr membefto shut oil t e 36 and being screw threadedforthe recepbetween the guides 35 and 36. This spring from the nozzles 20.A suitable and efii c'ient-means for accomplishing this, urposewhich-may be supplied with air from a suit- -able air pump 22, whichlatter may be operate'd from a suitable gear 23 through the' medium of apitmanirod 24 and this gear 23 may be rotated from asuitable motor 25through the medium-of a'conn'ectin "-26; A supply pipe 27 may be rovideleadm he. "air chamber 21. Extending from the chamber 21 is a suit withthe tubular members 13 to the picker a suitable guide The otherextremity of tubular member 19- with air to be directed comprises acompressed air cham r [21,

belt

pump 22 to te compressed able tubi'ilar member 28,- which may be ofnumber of picker nozzles 15. Extending from this tubular member 28 aresuitable tubular flexible members 29, which extend nozzles 15, the freeextremities ofithe tuburespectively connected to one extremity o atubular member 30 which is supported by the picker nozzle 15 and whichhascommunication with the tubuthe compressed air chamberv 21 will bede.- liveredf into the-tubular member 19 through the tubular t nemb ersa9, 30'. 'Ifdsired, a suitable valfveBlj may be'provided in either thetubular} member 29'or 30, 'which valve isada ted ;to hotmally close thepassa e supply of air from the am s 20 to enable the operator to'plaeethe picl r nozzle adj acent the cotton boll before'ajblast of air isdelivered through the nozzles 20. \Vhen the picker nozzle is in properposition withrespect to the plant, the operator may open the valve 31 topermit the air to flow to the nozzles 20 hnd through the 'mediumof thisvalve 31 he is enabled to regulath'the blasts of "air thus delivered. 7

The chamber 12 which has communication with the casing 11 of the suctionor vacuum creating device is provided with an opening 32 to the outsideair and a suitable valve 33 may be provided for closing this opening.Any suitable" means may be provided for controlling this valve 33 and inthe present cxcmplification of. the invention there is provided a rod34, one extremity of which is secured to the valve 33 and passes throughthe rod passes through a guide 36 which is supported in any desired orsuitable manner and is spaced from the guide 35, the free extremity ofthe rod passing beyond the guide tion of acontrolling nilt 37. Asuitable elastic member 38, such as a coil springor the like, surroundsthe rod 34 and is disposed 36 tcnds normally to hold the valve 33 seatedthe picker pass and as to close the opening 32 and by adjusting the nut37, the position of the valve may be regulated with respect to its seatto open or close the openin 32 to ermit or exclude the entrance of t eoutsi e air and by this means the vacuum or suction may be regulated.

A picker or'brush 39, preferably in the I form of a cross is providedfor en aging and removing the cotton from the 011. arms of the brush oricker are preferably arranged at right ang es to eaeh other, as

shown more clearly in Fig.3 and the edges of these arms are preferablyserrated, as-

shown more clearly at 4O inFig/2. This brush or picker 39 preferablytapersfrom one end toward the other and passes through slots or openingsthrou the brush or picker is rotated, in a manner to be hereinafter setforth, the collar 17v will be also axially rotated. The brush or picker39 is adapted to be shifted longitudinally through the collar. 17 so asto strip the cotton from the picker. The collar 17 being fixed, it willbe apparent that when thecotton adheres to the picker and the latterisshifted longitudinally through thebrush. The brush or picker ,isarranged so that the smaller'e d thereof will stand adjacent the edge ofhe picker nozzle and when in position will be located 'eccentricallywith res ct to the extremity of the picker nozzle. ny suitable meansmaybe provided for.

axially rotating the pickeror brush 39, and a suitable and efficientmeans for accomplishiug this purpose comprises a shaft {11, whichterminates short of the picker 3S} and is provided on its extremityadjacent the picker 39 with a tubular'section fl, and asu'itable bearing.13 may be provided: on the picker nozzle for. supporting the, Shaft,'The tubular section '42 of the shaft 41 is adapted to receive ancxtension '44 of tl1e' picker 39, which latter is adapted to betclescoped into the tubular section 42' when the picker 39 is shiftedlongitudinally in one direction and theextension 44 of the picker may besecured for rotation with the shaft 41- in any i desired or suitablemanner, preferably by means of a key 45 which key will also per mitlongitudinal adjustment ofthe exten sion 44 into or outof the tubularsectionz-42l The Y the collar 17 ,t-he latter being provided with hwhich the arms of p ,the collar, the cotton will be stripped from Thepicker 39 is preferably provided'with ashoulder 46 beyondwhich asuitableyoke 47 loosely engages the picker so as to permit the picker to beaxially'rotated-"with respect thereto, and secured to the yoke is asuitable shifting member 48 preferably in the form of a wire: or anyother suitable mate---" r ial'which may be pullcd'so as to move thepicker 39 longitudinally.

v Disposed between the collar-46 and the ex;

t.remity of thevtubl'ilarsetion 4'2 andgsurrounding the extension 440ithe. picker is a.

suitable elasticmember 49, such as a coil 7 1 spring or the-like, whichtends normally to hold the picker 39 away from the tubular section 42and into an'op'crative position so that the free ektremity-of the pickerwill stand adjacent the end of. the picker nozzle and m a position toengagethe cotton in the 'boll wh'enthc nozzle is held in an operative cshown in full lines inFig.

position.

through the medium of jthe wire ,or member *8 and against the tension ofthe elastic member 49 to null the )icker througlrthe" collar l7,'asshown in totted lines in Fig. 2,;to disengage the cotton from thepicker, and when the tension on the member '48 is released, the elasticmember 49 will return the-picker 39 to its operative positiom as Motionmay be imparted to thesha fts all in any desired orsuitable.manner,.preferahly by means of gears 50 meshing, with gears 51which latter are'secured' for rotation with a shaft which latter may berotiitcdtln'ough he medium of'intermeshing gears 54,, 55, th 7 ing'll.The shafts shit desired,:may be provided with universal joints 57 andthe ;.operation of the shafts 41.

" and the; other arm may be connectedto anwill shafts themselves may becoust ructedof any material suitable for the purpose and which per1mtthe tubular members" 13 to be readi y exed withoutinterfering with theAny suitable means may be gitudinally. Suitable and eflicient means edupon any suitable support. .The free extrem ty of the shifting member4-8 'is con nected to one arm of the bell crank' lever,"

operatin rod, orQmember; 59. If desired,

and-"as s lown in the present 'exemplitication of the invention, the.free ends of one or more of the bell-cranks may be connected to '3 thesame member 59, or one of .thenbell cranks may be connected to themember 59 and a link GO'may be provided for connectii the remaining bellcranks in series. ilidably mounted in suitable-bearings 61 ured to thevehicle 10 is a' member 62 to which the extremityofthe member 59 isconhected and this member 62 is provid d witli -a projection 93preferably in the-form of linear or finger. Rotatably mounted uponthevehicle -i'n suitable bearlngsis a crank ()4 preferably in the formof a gear having a lateral projection 65 which vis'adapted toengage'-the projection 63 on the member 62 when'the gear 64 isfrotatedso as toshift the ear 54 being rotated in any esired or suitable mannergsuchasbvmeans' of a belt 56, which is driven from the shaft of the suction orexhaust am within the eas- I i I rovided for" -automaticall vshiftingthe pic ers 39 lon- 7 :for accomplishing this purpose ct'unprises a,bell crank lever 58 which is pivotally mount- 'hen the cotton hasadhered to j the picker 39, the latter may be shifted.

i i i 1 member-62 in one direction in. its bearings I 61. 'When theprojection; 65passes out of engagement with the projection 63, during 3'a continuedrotation of the ear 64 the mem- 1 her 62 will be released anthe tension exertcd upon the elastic members t9 whei i .the

member- 62 is'moved in .one, directionavill cause the member 62 tomovein the opposite directionto )osition the projection (33 to heengagedby the projection (v5 0a the ue t ro'- tation of the gear 64.therebyforming a tappet mechanism Y for automatically sh ftingi thebrush or picker 3,9 ltlll ltlldll lttlly.

he gear 64 preferably meshes w th and receives its rotary motion fromthe gear and obviously the gears 23, (it, maybe of any desired sizewitlrrespect. to each other i and may be so changed as to regulate orimpart the desired number of. longitudinal charge'd through mos lei-em7..

hile in the present exemplificationof the invention thevehicle isillustrated with a ton tue 79 by means of which it may -be-proh thec'ottonfields, it is togbeunders'tood't nit the vehicle may ,be-motorprtlilpelled, in which event the usu'al gearing' wi be provided forconnecting-the motor with one of the axles of the vehlclc.

lVith this improved construction and with the improyed form of i'ckingnozzleit-lwill be apparent that'lthe lasts-of air will be directedacross'the opening of the picker nozzle into the boll whenthe latterprojects into the nozzle and the whirling a-ctionof the blasts of airfrom the nozzles 20 will gradually separate or disintegrate the cottonin the boll. During this disinte ration or so aration of the cottonwhile int e boll,

it wi 1 be engaged by the brush or )ick'er '39 x and the ra id axialrotation of t to latter willgradua 1y draw or pulllthe cotton from theboll. -As the cottonaccumulates-on the picker or brush some of it willbedrawn from the brush by the suction created in the tubular member 13'and through the nozzle 14 into the separator 67 and the cotton whichstill adheres to the pickerarid which is notremoved by the suction willbe stripped from the picker when the latter islongitudinally shifted. Asthe cotton fallsflfro'm the picker it will beconveyed by suction throughthe nozzle Hand into the separator 67 in a similar manner. It will alsobe apparent am by trolled by the operator, the picking nozzle theprovision of the valve 31 which is; conthe vehicle ."10' in any desiremay be the. boll efore the blasts of air are directed against the cottonto separate the latter.

A suitubleseat 80 may be su ported from or suitable manner and .anynumber of these seats may be' provided according to the number ofpicker-nozzles employed,preferably one seat for each two nozzles. Theseseats are located in close proximity tothe ground and are provided forthe operators who handle the may be regulated by the valve 33 tocrcate avacuumonly sutliciently strongto take or draw away.t he cotton and leavethe heavy substance'such as leaves, trash or the like,

which would lower the grade ofthe cotton if mixed therewith.

In; order that the invention mightbe fully understood, the details ofthe foregoing embodiment thereof have been thus specifically describedbut what I claim as new is 1. A cotton icker' including a pickingnozzle, means or directlng a blast of air,

across the nozzle to separate the cotton in the: boll, additional meansfor removing the cotton from the boll and means for shifting the. lastsaid means for removing'the cotton therefrom.

2. A cotton wicker including a picking nozzle, means or directing ablast of air across the nozzle to separate the cotton in the boll,mechanical means for pulling the cotton from theplant and means forshifting the said mechanical means for removing the cotton therefrom.

- 3. A cotton picker including a. picking nozzle, means foiyseparatingthe cotton in theboll, means daptcd to engage and pull the cotton fromthe plant,mcans for removing the cotton from the last saidineans andmeans for shift-ing one of the last. two said means with respect to theother.

.4. cotton picker including a'. picking nozzle,"inca.ns for separatingthe cotton in the bell, means adapted to engage and pull the cotton fromthe plant, means for rcmoving the cotton from the last said means andmeans for shifting one of-the last two said means with rcspcct to theother, and means for conveying the picked cotton away from 'thenozzle. h

A cotton picker including a picking nozzle, means for directing a blastof air from the periphery of the nozzle inward at an oblique angleto theperiphery and in, a

roperly positioned with respect to' nozzle, means plane perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the nozzle for separatin the cotton in theboll, mechanical means withinthe nozzle for engaging and pullin thecotton fromv the plant, and means or operating said mechanical means.

6. A cotton i'cker includin a picking nozzle, means or directing" alJlflSi' of air from the periphery of the nozzle inward at an'obliqueangle to the periphery and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of. the nozzle for; separating the cottonin the boll, mechanicalmeans within the nozzle for engaging and pulling the cottongiom theplant. and means other than the air. b list for operating saidmechanical means.

nozzle, means a( jacent the end of the nozzle for separating the cottonin 'the' boll,- me- "chanically operated means within the nozzle ickerincluding it picking and located cccentricall' with relation there-l tofor engaging and pu ling the cotton from;

the plant, means for sna in the cotton from the lastv said means anmeans for cons vcying thepicked cotton awaylroin:

nozzle. 4

8. A cotton picker including a nozzle, means whereby suction may atedwithin the nozzle, a supplementary picker within the nozzle, meansforSi'Qta tably supporting said supplementarypiliter and means forshifting said supplement picker to remove the cotton therefrom.

nozzle, means whereby suction may cm}.-

ated within the nozzle, a l s upplem'entary l picker within the nozzle,means for "rota tably supporting said supplementary picker 9. A. cottonpicker including a ice and means for-longitudinally shifting saisupplementary picker to removethe cotton therefrom.

10. Acotton ,piekenincluding a i'cking nozzle, means wherebyfsuetionmaysie created within the nozzle, a. supplementary picker within thenozzle, means' iqr rotatably supporting said su plement-arfy picker, andmeans for longitu' inally shi ting the supplementary pickerthroughitsbearmg to strip the cotton therefrom.;

11. A cotton icker including a icking nozzle, means w ereby suction maye ere ated within the no zzle, a supplementary picker within the nozzle,means for rotatably supporting said supplementary picker, and means forautomatically shifting said supplementary picker to remove thecottontherefroin'.

12. A cotton picker including a. picking 7 through the -nozz1e, asupementary picker operating within the non e,-a'rotatahlc supor conve ingthe cottonport-through which thesaid supplementary picker islongitudinally movable, means for automatically shifting. thesupplementary picker through the support to strip the act;

picker.

icker including- -a'- picking 13A cotton t or conveying the-' cottonnozzle, means through the' nozzle,-'a supplementary picker operatingwithin the nozzle and eccentric thereto. a rotatable support-throughwhich the said'suplementary picker is longitudinally -mova 1e, means forautomatically shifting the supplementary picker through the support tostrip the cotton therefrom, and means for rotating said supplementary H.A cotton picker including a picking nozzle, means for'creating a-su'ction in the nozzle, a rotatable and shifta-ble su aplementary pickerwithin the noz'zleand a apted toengage-and detachthe cottonfrom theboll, meanstending normally. to hold the supplementary 'pickerJin' 'aposition with respect to the hozzle to en ge and detach the cotton fromth'e boll, an means for shifting the supplementary icker against thetensionof the said hol mg m us 0 strip the cott on therefrom; L

15. A cottod'pxcker inane g nozzle -aneans for. creating a Is" .P tronin the nozzle,- a -rotatable and sh'ftable plementary picker within thenozzleand a apted to engage" and detach the cotton from the boll,-meanstending normallytto hold the supplementary picker in a position withrespect to the nozzle to engage and detach the .cotton from the boll,and means for automatically shifting the supplementary picker against.the tension of the said holding means to strip the cotton therefrom.

' l6. cotton picker including a picking nozzle, means for creating asuction in the nozzle, a rotatable and longitudinallyshift- Iahlesupplementary picker within the noz-' 'zle and adapted to engage anddetach the cotton from the .boll, means tending normally to hold thesupplementary: picker in a position with respect tothe nozzle to en gageand detach the cotton from the boll, and means for longitudinallyshifting the supplementary picker against the tension of the saidholding means to strip the cottonthcrct'mm. v IT. A cottol'i pickerincluding a picking nozzle. means for creating a suction in the nozzle,a rotatableand longitudinally shiftablc supplementary picker within thenozzle, means lending normally to hold the supplementary picker inaposition with respect to the nozzle to engage and detach the cottont'romthe boll, and means for automatically -shifting the supplementarypicker against the tension of the said holding means to strip the cottontherefrom. v

18. A cotton picker including 'a picking nozzle, means for creating asuction in the iozzle, a rotatable and longitudinally shiftralesupplementary picker within the nozzle, means tending normally toholdthe sup- .plem'entary; picker in Ta posit-ion with respect,

to the nozzle ato. engage and detach the.

'cottomfromthe bollyanduneans for auto- ."matically shifting thesupplementary picker againstthe tension of the said holdi means to'stripthe cotton therefrom, the lastsaid meansinclud'ing tappet mechanism.

-.19: A cotton picker including anpicking nozzle, means for creating asuction therein,

jmeans other than the suction means for directing a blast of air acrossthenozzle to scparate the cotton in the boll, positive means for en gingthe cotton and detaching it from t e boll, means other than the firsttwosaid means for operating thesaid sitivemeans, and means for bodilyshiftmg the said ositive means for removing the cotton there .rom. v

20; A cotton picker including a picking nozzle, means for creating asuction therein,

meafis other than the suction means for directing a blast of air acrossthe nozzle to separate the cotton in the boll, positive means for enaging the cotton and detaching it from t e' boll, 'meansother than thefirst twosaid means for operating the said ally shifting the saidpositive moans bodily to strip the cotton therefrom,

21. A cotton picker including a picking nozzle,'an axially rotatablepicker adjacent the end of the nozzle for engaging andpulling thecottonfrom the boll, means for rotating said picker andmeans for shifting therotatable-picker with respect to the noz zle for disengaging the cottonfrom the said pulling means,

22. A device of the character described including an axially rotatablepicker. adapted to engage and pull the cotton from the plant, means forremoving the cotton from the positive means,'and means for-automatic- Ipicker, means for shifting said axially ro-- tatable picker and thecotton removing I means one with respect to the other, means forrotating the picker, and a nozzle inclosmg the picker.

"23. A cotton picker including a picking I nozzle. an axially rotatablepicker adjacent the end of the nozzle for engaging and pulling thecotton from the boll, means for rototing the picker,- means for shiftingthe-rotatable picker with respect to the nozzle for disengaging thecotton therefrom, and means for conveying away the cotton thusdisengaged. I

24. A picker including a suction picking nozzle, an axially rotatablemechanical picker ad acent the end of the nozzle for plant, means forrotating the picker, and means for shifting the rotatable picker withrespect to'the nozzle for disengaging the cotton from the said.rotatable picker.

25.'. cotton picker including a suction engaging and pnllingthe cottonfrom the 'pi chiing' noz z1e,-dn"nxial ly rotatable mechanflame to thiespecifieefiion, in. the presence lcal poker-adjacent the end of thenozzle of twoesubscribn i%wi thes'ses, on'fhisfl2'dayi for-en agi'ngandpulhn'g-the cotton from of September 1908;,

5 means for automatically shifting the said the bofi. means forrotatmgthepicker and WILLIAMNW mechanical picker with respect'to the'nozl Witnesses:. 4.

, zle for disengaginothe cotton therefrom. g F. L. Bu'rrimmilgpn; V 1.!In tes timonfy whereof l have, signed pay EDWARD O. Bx x mgg,

